Woman Without Tongue Has Groundbreaking Procedure

A 23-year-old woman, born tongueless, has received groundbreaking treatment in Brazil. Auristela Viana da Silva spent years having difficulties eating, speaking, and breathing. "She has been living on the edge from the time she was born; she could have died after three days," her mother said.

After a decade of seemingly ineffective treatments, a team of doctors finally decided to go for a more extraordinary option. In a process which required two operations, doctors expanded Silva's chin and jaw to create more space in the interior of her mouth. She also had to use braces for her teeth.